Richard Clarence Mercer
July 21, 1916 — September 16, 2008
Richard Clarence Mercer, the son of Clarence and Nellie Dunn Mercer, was born July 21, 1916, at his parents’ home near Marion, Iowa and died September 16, 2008, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 92 years, 1 month, and 25 days.
Richard was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion. He attended Catholic Parochial School in Marion and Springville High School in Springville, IA. Richard worked various jobs before he became a bus driver.
On June 27, 1942, he was united in marriage to Neva Louise Maier at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Two children Jon and Joan were born to this union. They lived in Springville, IA their entire married life. Richard was a bus driver for Springville Community Schools which leased buses from Hampton Bus Company which later became Charter Coaches. He retired in 1982. He then returned to work for Linn-Mar School District as a grounds man and later at Linn-Mar Indian Creek Elementary School. Richard loved all those years of taking care of the students (and their children and their children’s children as the years went by) and getting to know them and also making sure that all the bus routes ran smoothly for the school. He was given many safe driving awards which he spoke proudly and frequently about all his years driving bus and his “kids”.
Richard loved spending time with his family and friends, fishing, hunting and traveling with his wife. They traveled frequently until they moved to Exira in the Fall of 2003. He was most happy when he was off and traveling around the country, seeing new places and visiting with people.
Richard attended the Presbyterian Church in Springville, IA until 2003. He was an “Honorary Deacon” when Neva was a Deaconess. When he moved to Exira, he attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA. They moved to the Sunset View Apartments in 2003. Neva died March 5, 2007.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife were his son Jon Richard Mercer; his brother James Mercer; his brothers-in-law: Dale Stambaugh and Kenny Smith.
Survivors include his daughter Joan and husband David Schrampfer of Exira, IA; his grandchildren: Denise and husband Lonn Kilworth of Exira and Debra Schrampfer of Omaha, NE; his great-grandchildren: Michael Kilworth, Matthew Kilworth, and Christopher Kilworth, all of Exira; his brother and sister: Robert and wife Opal Mercer of Washington, IA; and Mary Jo Smith of Marion, IA; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Shirley Mercer of Marion, IA; Irma Stambaugh of Springville, IA; Eleanor and husband Dick Taylor of Iowa City, IA; Lester and wife Virginia Maier of Alburnett, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, conducted by Rev. Karen Downey Beals. The family will meet friends Friday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 at the funeral home. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Please sign the online guestbook for Richard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Richard was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion. He attended Catholic Parochial School in Marion and Springville High School in Springville, IA. Richard worked various jobs before he became a bus driver.
On June 27, 1942, he was united in marriage to Neva Louise Maier at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Two children Jon and Joan were born to this union. They lived in Springville, IA their entire married life. Richard was a bus driver for Springville Community Schools which leased buses from Hampton Bus Company which later became Charter Coaches. He retired in 1982. He then returned to work for Linn-Mar School District as a grounds man and later at Linn-Mar Indian Creek Elementary School. Richard loved all those years of taking care of the students (and their children and their children’s children as the years went by) and getting to know them and also making sure that all the bus routes ran smoothly for the school. He was given many safe driving awards which he spoke proudly and frequently about all his years driving bus and his “kids”.
Richard loved spending time with his family and friends, fishing, hunting and traveling with his wife. They traveled frequently until they moved to Exira in the Fall of 2003. He was most happy when he was off and traveling around the country, seeing new places and visiting with people.
Richard attended the Presbyterian Church in Springville, IA until 2003. He was an “Honorary Deacon” when Neva was a Deaconess. When he moved to Exira, he attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA. They moved to the Sunset View Apartments in 2003. Neva died March 5, 2007.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife were his son Jon Richard Mercer; his brother James Mercer; his brothers-in-law: Dale Stambaugh and Kenny Smith.
Survivors include his daughter Joan and husband David Schrampfer of Exira, IA; his grandchildren: Denise and husband Lonn Kilworth of Exira and Debra Schrampfer of Omaha, NE; his great-grandchildren: Michael Kilworth, Matthew Kilworth, and Christopher Kilworth, all of Exira; his brother and sister: Robert and wife Opal Mercer of Washington, IA; and Mary Jo Smith of Marion, IA; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Shirley Mercer of Marion, IA; Irma Stambaugh of Springville, IA; Eleanor and husband Dick Taylor of Iowa City, IA; Lester and wife Virginia Maier of Alburnett, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, conducted by Rev. Karen Downey Beals. The family will meet friends Friday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 at the funeral home. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Please sign the online guestbook for Richard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Clarence Mercer, please visit our flower store.